Wisteria plant named ‘Angie’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Wisteria sinensis  named ‘Angie’ characterized by strong upright stem growth, characterized by thick non-twining stem growth, large pink and violet flowers and leaf foliage, initially taking a gold color and later changing to bronze and green during a three week period, seed pods are lacking.

Botanical classification: Wisteria sinensis.

Cultivar designation: ‘Angie’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and unique cultivar of Wisteriaplant. The plant of the present invention lies in the botanicalclassification of Wisteria sinensis. The cultivar bears the name ‘Angie’and represents a new Chinese Wisteria which vigorously grows as anupright vine.

‘Angie’ was discovered by the inventor in Concord Calif., aMediterranean climatic zone, in 1999 as a young plant derived from theplants known as Cook's Chinese Wisteria. The cultivar has been asexuallyreproduced in Martinez, Calif. by a process of layering over a period often years and appears to be stable and be reproducible from generationto generation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Angie’ possesses the following traits which have been observed overa ten year period. The traits distinguish the cultivar of the presentinvention from other varieties of Wisteria sinensis which are known. The‘Angie’ exhibits:

-   -   1. A strong upright stem growth    -   2. Pink and violet flowers having banner corollas that are large        and erect.    -   3. Foliage which changes from gold to bronze to green over        relatively a long period of time.    -   4. The lack of seed pods.

‘Angie’ is a rapid growing plant when young, slowing as the plantmatures. The plant blooms in the spring in abundance and retains itsbloom for an extended period of time.

-   -   5. New stem growth is abnormally thick, with very minimal        twining.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographs show the overall of thecharacteristics of the ‘Angie’ Wisteria. The photographs were taken of aplant approximately nine years old grown outdoors in Martinez Calif.

Photograph in FIG. 1, is a view of the flower of the ‘Angie’ Wisteria.

The photograph in FIG. 2, is a view of the overall plant as a vineagainst a wooden backdrop.

It is believed that the colors in the photographs are accurate inaccordance with photography techniques as known to date. The colorvalues cited in the following detailed botanical description are madeaccording to The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society, of London England in collaboration with theFlower Counsel of Holland, and represent the actual colors of the‘Angie’ Wisteria.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the cultivar of the presentinvention grown outdoors in Martinez, Calif. and having an age of aboutten years.

-   Origin: Layering from parent plant.-   Botanical classification: ‘Angie’ is a cultivar of Wisteria    sinensis.-   General description:    -   -   Growth rate.—Young plant grows about six inches per year,            mature plant reaches a height about 10 feet after about ten            years.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous vine.        -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Blooming characteristics.—Blooms only in spring.        -   Blooming period.—Three weeks.        -   Plant habit.—Erect with minimal support.        -   Roots.—Coarse.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Layering from parent plant.        -   Shoot appearance.—Smooth.        -   Growth rate.—Slow-when young and slowing down when plant            matures.-   Stem description:    -   -   Branching.—Free.        -   Stem diameter.—3 ml when young and developing into 0.5 cm.            when mature. Stem color is 154A when young, 156D when old.        -   Stem surface.—Smooth changing to bark with bumpy surface as            plant matures.        -   Stem internode length.—10 to 12 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaves.—Ovate to oblanceolate with acuminate tip, internodal            length is about 5 cm, 20 to 30 cm in length and 13 through            18 cm in width, 8 to 10 leaves per stem.        -   Leaflets.—Ovate and initially folded along the main vane.            The leaflet's upper surface when young color is 30D,            leaflet's upper surface mature color is 137C, leaflet's            lower surface when young color is 30D, leaflet's upper            surface mature color is 137C.        -   Petioles.—4 cm in length, 1.5 ml in width, color is 145A,            top surface glabrous, furry when first emerging, bottom is            rough.        -   Stipules.—None, but bulbous bottom attachment of petiole to            stem.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Racemes blooms base to end, racemes hang down            during bloom.        -   Inflorescence duration.—3 weeks.        -   Flower size.—1.5 cm racemes size up to 38 cm in length and            12 cm across.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet.        -   Flower number.—40 to 60 per raceme.        -   Peduncle.—20 to 30 cm, long color is 144D.        -   Petiole.—2 cm long, color is 33D and 154C.        -   Flower buds.—Ovide shape, color is 155D and 108C.        -   Calyx.—Radiant, but not campanulate, sepal number four each            and are tipped at apex, color is 188C.        -   Corolla.—Banner 2.5 cm wide and high and erect, color is 56D            and only the spectrum between 108A and 155D wings — number            two each, 1.5 cm Long tending to stay enclosed, color is            156A and only the spectrum between 108A and 155D, receptacle            — is minimal and color is 56A and only the spectrum between            108A and 155D mottled, corolla faded state color is 69D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—Has long furry ovary containing bean-shaped embryos,            pistil style color is 145D, pistil has cap-shaped at end of            narrowing stalk, stigma color is 158D, ovary color is 145B.        -   Stamens.—Attached to base of ovary, 1 stamen atop of Ovary            and 9 joined below, each filament of stamen holds anther            which is obilong and segmented, anther color is 163B, while            the stamen filament color is 155D.        -   Seeds.—Do not develop into pods, however embryonic Pods            develop and shed from plant before maturing.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Wisteria plant named ‘Angie’ as hereinnow illustrated and described.